Just over a week ago a large part of the east coast of Malta was hit by an influx of jellyfish after an exceptionally large bloom of mauve stingers occurred. Now, swimmers in Gozo got a firsthand taste of what their Maltese east coast brethren were experiencing after literal waves of jellyfish began washing up on the shores of Ramla Bay in Gozo.

“It was like nothing I had ever seen before. I’ve been living here all of my life, I’m always at the beach and I never experienced this,” said Loretta Dempsey, a local resident who filmed the Gozitan bloom.

There is usually a bloom of jellyfish at this time of the year due to the water’s changing temperature, however this year more jellyfish were reported than usual.

“I had sort of predicted this last January when we experienced a long dry and warm spell back: that the major mauve stinger bloom this year would come early and would be of larger proportions most probably,” said environmentalist Alan Deidun when last week’s bloom had occurred. 

Dr Deidun said the bloom was the same as last week’s, and the shifting wind had pushed the jellyfish towards other parts of the coastline. He said the bloom should last a few more weeks, and that you can keep up with jellyfish in Maltese waters by following the Spot The Jellyfish website. 

A video showing last week’s bloom in Malta

How to treat a mauve stinger sting

• In the case of the Mauve Stinger, the following advice is given:

1. Carefully rinse with seawater, do not rub the affected area.
2. If available, apply a mixture of seawater and baking soda (1:1 ratio) for two minutes. This will stop any further release of venom from the stinging cells left on the skin.
3. Use a plastic credit card to remove any residual tentacles and excess baking soda mixture
4. Apply cold packs for 5-15 minutes. For example, use a bag of ice or even cold drink wrapped in a cloth.
5. Assess the degree of pain and reapply cold pack if required for further 5 mins
6. If pain persists, consult a doctor or pharmacist who should prescribe painkillers and/or anti-inflammatory creams e.g. 3-4% Lidocaine and Hydrocortisone.
7. DO NOT wrap in bandages nor use vinegar, fresh water, alcohol and ammonia, all of which can aggravate the situation further.

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Johnathan Cilia

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]